31.8.14

Newcastle United's Golden Era

The 11 seasons from 1900 marked a golden age for Newcastle United.
Let's take a look at their league positions and FA Cup performance:

season

League

FA Cup

1900–01

6th

R1

1901–02

3rd

R3

1902–03

14th

R1

1903–04

4th

R1

1904–05

Champions

Runners-up

1905–06

4th

Runners-up

1906–07

Champions

R1

1907–08

4th

Runners-up

1908–09

Champions

Semi-final

1909–10

4th

Winners

1910–11

8th

Runners-up

In the League a 7 season spell in which they were never lower than 4th, winning 3 titles.
A 7 year period in which they reached 5 FA Cup Finals , but won only 1. Four major honours- it could have been 8, but for The FA Cup Final hoodoo.

Here are the FA Cup Final teams:

1904–05

1905–06

1907–08

1909–10

1909–10 (r)

1910-11

1910-11 (r)

G

Jimmy Lawrence

FB

Andy McCombie

Billy McCracken

FB

Jack Carr

Dick Pudan

Tony Whitson

Jack Carr

Tony Whitson

HB

Alex Gardner

Colin Veitch (c)

HB

Andy Aitken

Colin Veitch (c)

Wilf Low

HB

Peter McWilliam

David Willis

F

Jock Rutherford

F

James Howie

George Jobey

F

Bill Appleyard

Colin Veitch (c)

Bill Appleyard

Albert Shepherd

Jimmy Stewart

F

Colin Veitch(c)

Ron Orr

Finlay Speedie

Sandy Higgins

F

Bert Gosnel

George Wilson

Mr.

Frank Watt

committee

The journalist Jimmy Catton claimed to have seen Andy Aitken penning an acceptance speech on the eve of the 1905 Final.

Catton also offered the explanation that rather than simply being serial chokers, Newcastle were hampered by the lush surface at Crystal Palace, more so than other teams because they were particularly reliant on pinging short fast passes and also because the St James' Park pitch was virtually grassless by comparison. The players themselves were notably superstitious, believing that passing a wedding on the way to the ground would guarantee a victory, whereas seeing a funeral meant defeat!